COVID policy

COVID-19 Information

To our patients

The Bow Lane team have been working hard around the clock to make sure the practice is safe environment for you and us.

As a dental clinic, we work in an environment where the prevention of a whole range of infections is integrated into everything we do. In addition to our usual cross infection control measures, we have been paying extremely close attention to all government guidelines, more specifically to COVID-19. Please read through the information below to see what’s changed.

Our New Patient Journey

The practice has implemented new cross infection prevention control standards in light of the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure paramount safety of our team and patients. We kindly ask you to thoroughly read all aspects of this information and comply with the requirements for your appointment.

You will be sent your Medical History form to complete or update remotely online via an email link before your appointment. Please complete these as soon as possible, this will include:

• Medical History
• Health Screening (COVID-19)
• Patient Details
• Terms and Conditions (COVID-19 Declaration and Consent)
• GDPR Consent

You can find our medical history forms below:

• New Patient – Fee
• Existing patient – Membership Schemes including ‘Smile For Life’ and ‘Whitening For Life’
• Existing Patient – Fee

We will also send any relevant treatment consents to you via email prior to your appointment. Please kindlyread, sign and return these remotely before you attend your appointment where possible.

Please let us know if you require any assistance in completing your forms. A member of our reception team will be happy to help.

Pre-appointment Patient Information

Please do not attend the appointment if the following applies to you:

• If you have been in contact with any persons who are unwell or have COVID-19 Symptoms.
• If you, or anyone in your household, have a temperature in excess of 37.8 degrees or a fever.
• If you or anyone in your household have a persistent cough this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours.
• If you, or anyone in your household, recently developed a loss of or change in your normal sense of smell or taste.
• If you have previously tested positive for covid-19 and still not feeling well after 10 days of receiving your result.

Please maintain self-isolation and contact the practice by phone or email for further advice or follow the below link for government website advice.

‍http://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-stay-at-home-guidance/stay-at-home-guidance-for-households-with-possible-coronavirus-covid-19-infection

Arriving for your appointment

To maintain the highest safety and care standards we have developed a list of bullet points for your safety. Please read through this carefully so that you know what to expect on the day of your appointment.

• Please wear a face covering/mask to your appointment.
• Please do not bring any non-essential belongings to your appointment.
• Please attend the appointment alone unless a parent or carer is required. Kindly inform us of this in advance if this is the case.
• Please attend the practice at the start time of your appointment and do not arrive early or late.
• Once in the practice, a member of staff will ask you to have your temperature taken by the automatic scanner is the hallway outside of reception.
• You will also be asked to either was your hands or disinfect your hands using the alcohol gel available in our reception area.
• Please maintain social distancing from other patients and team in the practice.
• Please refrain from touching surfaces, doors and handles as much as possible.
• Your wait in the waiting room will now be minimal and you will be taken straight through to the surgery. A maximum of 4 patients will be allowed in the waiting room at one time.
• Please do not attend the practice expecting to brush your teeth prior to your appointment. Due to government guidelines, we have had to remove all toothbrushes, toothpaste and samples from our bathrooms and waiting areas.

During your appointment

The dentist and nurse will have the correct PPE on throughout the appointment, even when talking to you before and after the procedure.

If you are having an ‘Aerosol Generating Procedure’ the dentist and nurse will be wearing a FFP2/respirator mask and full clinical gown.

After your appointment

Please return to the reception desk to book your future appointment as normal.

Please preferably pay in advance for the appointment over the phone or by link, otherwise a contactless method is preferred. A member of our team will always disinfect the card machine reader in between each use, for your peace of mind.

Remember: The practice no longer accepts cash payments.

‍Any treatment estimates, information or consent forms will now be emailed to you as we no longer provide paper formats of these.

Please note:

If you wish to cancel or reschedule this appointment, please allow 2 working days’ notice (see cancellation policy on email reminders).

Thank you for your support during these unprecedented times, we look forward to seeing you.

The Team at Bow Lane Dental